Peace of Neighbors: AG FINAL REPORT 2012
Ambassador Group Releases Trailblazing Report on Peace-building in South Sudan
Press Contact: Jon Pattee, LIRS Assistant Director for Media Relations
202-591-5778, jpattee@lirs.org
WASHINGTON, D.C., July 31, 2012– Securing peace in South Sudan’s State of Jonglei requires determined peace-building efforts including disarmament, development, trainings, and education, says a report released today by the Ambassador Group (AG) of the Jonglei Peace of Neighbors project.
This report details the recommendations of the AG, the South Sudanese community leaders now living in the United States. The AG visited Jonglei from December 2011 to January 2012 on a fact-finding mission.
“Jonglei, like other states, has seen tribal turmoil both before and since South Sudan won independence in 2011,” said AG member Rev. Thon Moses Chol. “Many Jonglei citizens are still dying in this violence, and our urgent mission is to stop the killing and put Jonglei on the path to peace and prosperity.”
The genesis of conflicts among Jonglei’s five main ethnic groups, the Dinka, Nuer, Murle, Anyuak, and Jie, is hard to pinpoint because it stems in part from a strategy of incitement by Khartoum, the AG found. Other contributing factors include traditions of cattle-raiding, efforts to take revenge for the killing of fellow tribespeople, and attempts to liberate children and women abducted by other tribes.
“A final factor is that recently, these conflicts have been turning into poverty wars, in which those who feel unable to support themselves and their families attack and loot from other tribes,” added AG member John Chuol Kuek.
To overcome this crisis through peace-building, the South Sudan Institute (SSI), with financial support from CARE South Sudan, recruited Jonglei citizens living in the United States to be AG members.
“Our goal is for the tribes to live peacefully and respectfully with one another,” said AG member Peter Magai Bul. “To that end, the AG supports peaceful alternatives to the current violence, and demands fundamental changes in South Sudan’s domestic policy, including a move from militarism to one of addressing social needs.”
The AG’s recommendations include intensive training for tribal chiefs, clergy, and civil society; deployment of security forces; road-building; establishment of a Peace and Humanitarian Ministry; state and regional youth conferences; comprehensive disarmament; and education, job-training, and development projects.
“We’re optimistic about the future for Jonglei State and South Sudan,” said Margie Bell, SSI Chairperson. “We need politicians, tribal chiefs, and civil society to unite on the peace-building recommendations.”
“This report marks a huge step forward for peace in Jonglei State,” said Greg Umaya of CARE South Sudan.
“We’re proud of the AG’s consensus-building steps towards stopping the violence,” added AG member Banak Mading Kueth.
Please click the title to read and download the full text of the report “Peace of Neighbors.”
The South Sudan Institute, a non-profit service organization, was established January 2008 in response to the need for peace, food security, and education in Jonglei State.
CARE South Sudan meets the needs of the residents of Jonglei State and the country as a whole.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, the United States-based non-profit dedicated to welcoming and advocating for immigrants and refugees, assisted with the preparation of the report.
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Hello,
Here are the two versions of the final report, one in low-res format, one in hi-res. The low-res is suitable for posting on the Internet for people to download. The hi-res is for printing hard copies, because the report will print more clearly.
God bless,
Thon Moses
Peace_of_Neighbors_Report_July2012_highres.pdf 2 (1).pdf
Peace_of_Neighbors_Report_July2012_lowres_FINAL[1].pdf 1.pdf
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